First aid kit in the workplace: DIN 13157 or DIN 13169, how many?

After a cut in the workshop or a fall on the construction site, the first few minutes are critical. First aid material must be close at hand, complete, and still within its shelf life. In many businesses, a first aid kit may be hanging on the wall, but no one knows exactly whether it is suitable for the type of business, whether the quantity is sufficient, or whether the contents comply with current standards.

The answer is not found in a single law. DGUV Regulation 1 requires sufficient first aid material, ASR A4.3 and DGUV Information 204-022 specify minimum numbers, and the DIN 13157 and DIN 13169 standards define the contents. This guide organizes these sources, shows the minimum numbers for each type of business, explains the 2021 changes to the standards, and concludes with a checklist for purchasing and inspection.

What do DGUV Regulation 1 and ASR A4.3 require of companies?

Every company must provide sufficient first aid material, as stated in Section 25, Paragraph 2 of DGUV Regulation 1. The Workplace Ordinance specifies this in Section 4, Paragraph 5: The employer must provide first aid supplies and regularly check them for completeness and usability. Technical Rule ASR A4.3 (December 2010 edition, last amended GMBl 2024, p. 914) specifies that first aid material must be kept in first aid kits or other suitable containers such as backpacks, bags, or cabinets. The minimum quantity is stated in Table 1 of the rule.

The type, quantity, and storage locations are determined by the company as part of the risk assessment, based on the size of the business, existing hazards, the extent of the business, and the organization of emergency services. The numbers in the ASR are therefore a minimum. For special hazards, additional medical devices such as a defibrillator or antidotes may be necessary. How the risk assessment is classified within occupational safety is explained in the guide Occupational Safety vs. Workplace Safety.

Small or large first aid kit: What is the difference between DIN 13157 and DIN 13169?

Both workplace first aid kits contain the same types of first aid material, but the large one contains twice the quantity. DGUV Information 204-022 (May 2017 edition) explicitly states that two small first aid kits replace one large one. The small one is called first aid kit C and is regulated by DIN 13157, while the large one is called first aid kit E and is covered by DIN 13169. Both editions are current. According to DIN Media, DIN 13157:2009-11 has been withdrawn.

Workplace first aid kits are designed for use within the workplace and do not replace the vehicle first aid kit according to DIN 13164 that vehicles on public roads must carry. For field work, the opposite applies: a vehicle first aid kit according to DIN 13164 may serve as a small first aid kit in workshop vehicles and emergency vehicles. The complete list of all items is published by the DGUV as a list of first aid material according to DIN standards.

How many first aid kits does your business need?

The minimum number depends on the type of business and the number of insured persons. The following table shows the values from ASR A4.3 as presented by the DGUV.

Two small first aid kits replace one large one each. For field work, a vehicle first aid kit according to DIN 13164 (February 2022 edition) may be used as a small first aid kit. Three examples illustrate the application of the table: A metalworking business with 45 insured persons is classified as a manufacturing and processing business and needs at least one large or two small first aid kits. An office location with 60 insured persons falls within the 51 to 300 range and also needs one large kit. A construction site with 30 insured persons needs one large first aid kit.

For distribution, DGUV Information 204-022 (May 2017 edition) provides a guideline: first aid material should be no more than 100 m away from permanent workstations or no more than one floor away. Our assessment: In the case of multiple halls, buildings, or floors, a single central first aid kit is therefore usually not sufficient.

What changed in the contents in 2021?

Very little. The DGUV states that no first aid material was removed compared to the 2009 editions. New additions are Type I face masks according to DIN EN 14683 and wet wipes for cleaning unwounded skin. The quantity of plasters was also increased because they are among the most frequently used first aid materials.

Existing first aid kits do not need to be completely replaced. According to the DGUV, they can be supplemented without much effort; it is recommended to add the new materials at the next inspection. The Brandenburg Accident Insurance Fund expresses it similarly: It is not necessary to procure a completely new first aid kit, but the contents should be updated to the current version in the short term. The core contents of both first aid kits consist of the following items:

• Wound care: adhesive plasters, ready-made plaster assortment, compresses, eye compresses, and instant cold compress
• Dressings: first aid dressing packs according to DIN 13151, dressing cloth according to DIN 13152, fixation bandages according to DIN 61634, and triangular bandages according to DIN 13168
• Protection and cleaning: medical gloves, face masks, wet wipes, plastic bags, and nonwoven fabric wipes
• Miscellaneous: emergency blanket, first aid kit scissors, first aid brochure, and table of contents

Where should the first aid kit be kept, and how is it inspected?

The first aid kit must be easily accessible and ready for use, and its storage location must be labeled and easily accessible, as required by Section 4.3 of the Annex to the Workplace Ordinance. DGUV Information 204-022 adds: The labeling is based on ASR A1.3, and the material must be protected from contamination, moisture, and high temperatures. After use, if it becomes unusable due to dirt or damage, and after the expiration date has passed, it must be replaced. According to the DGUV, the shelf life of standard first aid materials can be up to 20 years.

The reviewed sources do not specify a fixed inspection interval; the Workplace Ordinance requires regular checks for completeness and usability. Therefore, establish the interval, checklist, and responsible person within the company itself and record them in the risk assessment.

Which first aid kits are suitable for which application?

The classification follows the type of business and the location of use. It does not replace the risk assessment, but translates the minimum numbers into typical work areas:

• Office and administration: one small kit for up to 50 insured persons, then one large first aid kit; you can find suitable models under First Aid Kits.
• Production and workshop: one large first aid kit from 21 insured persons; businesses in Production and Manufacturing are classified under the manufacturing and processing category.
• Warehouse and shipping: In large halls, multiple locations ensure that the 100 m guideline is met; find out more about this area under Warehouse and Logistics.
• Construction site and road construction: one large first aid kit from 11 insured persons; in emergency vehicles, a vehicle first aid kit according to DIN 13164 may serve as a small first aid kit; find out more about this area under Road Construction.
• Gardening, forestry, and tree care: DGUV Rule 114-018 Forest Work (October 2025 edition) specifies first aid kit C according to DIN 13157:2021-11 and one personal large or medium first aid dressing pack according to DIN 13151:2008-12 for each person; you can find suitable equipment under Forestry Protection and Gardening and Landscaping.
• Refilling and replenishment: Refills according to DIN 13157 and DIN 13169 are available under Refills, while plasters and other materials can be found under First Aid Accessories.

What else is part of first aid besides the first aid kit?

The first aid kit is only one part of workplace first aid. DGUV regulates three additional components:

• First aiders: According to Section 26 of DGUV Regulation 1, a business with 2 to 20 insured persons present needs one first aider. For more than 20 insured persons present, the requirement is 5 percent in administrative and commercial businesses and 10 percent in other businesses. The training takes 9 teaching units, and refresher training is required at least every 2 years.
• Documentation: First aid treatments are recorded in a first aid logbook, a reporting pad according to DGUV Information 204-021, or electronically, and the documentation must be kept for five years.
• Additional supplies: Depending on the risk assessment, medical devices such as an Automated External Defibrillator or antidotes may be required.

Checklist: Procuring and inspecting first aid kits in the company

• Determine the type of business and the number of insured persons at each location, and calculate the minimum number according to ASR A4.3
• Check the risk assessment for additional supplies such as a defibrillator or antidotes
• Check the standard specification for the container and refill: DIN 13157:2021-11 or DIN 13169:2021-11
• Supplement older refills from the 2009 edition with face masks, wet wipes, and missing plasters
• Label storage locations according to ASR A1.3; the distance from the permanent workstation must be no more than 100 m or one floor
• Field work: vehicle first aid kit according to DIN 13164 in the emergency vehicle
• Establish the inspection interval, checklist, and responsible person, and record expiration dates
• Document consumption, appoint first aiders, and provide refresher training in a timely manner

At Technigro: First aid kits, refills, and accessories

At Technigro, companies can find workplace first aid kits and workplace first aid cases according to DIN 13157 and DIN 13169, vehicle first aid kits, filled first aid cabinets, as well as refills and plaster dispensers. When selecting, check the standard specification in the product description and compare it with the November 2021 version. Companies can order through the B2B Program using a business account. The guide Choosing the Right PPE: What Lies Behind Categories and Standards explains the basics of categories and standards for protective equipment.

Note: This post provides general information (as of 02.11.2026). The required protective equipment is determined by your company's risk assessment. If in doubt, clarify the selection with your occupational safety specialist.

Sources

1. DGUV First Aid Department: First Aid Material, as of 20.03.2024, number of first aid kits by type of business, Section 25, Paragraph 2 of DGUV Regulation 1. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
2. DGUV: List of first aid materials according to DIN standards, as of February 2022, with face masks according to DIN EN 14683. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
3. DGUV First Aid Department: Updated DIN standards for workplace first aid kits, announcement of 28.10.2021. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
4. DGUV Information 204-022: First aid in the workplace, edition May 2017. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
5. DGUV Information 204-021: Reporting pad for documenting first aid treatment, adapted to DIN 13157:2021-11, DIN 13169:2021-11 and DIN 13164:2022-02. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
6. DGUV First Aid Department: Workplace first aider, Section 26 DGUV Regulation 1, page of 30.04.2024. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
7. DGUV Rule 114-018: Forestry work, edition October 2025. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
8. DIN 13157:2021-11, First aid material, First aid kit C, DIN Media. Edition checked, replaces DIN 13157:2009-11. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
9. DIN 13169:2021-11, First aid material, First aid kit E, DIN. Edition checked. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
10. ASR A4.3: First aid rooms, equipment and facilities for first aid, edition December 2010, last amended GMBl 2024, p. 914, BAuA. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
11. KomNet NRW, Dialog 44062: Workplace first aid kit according to DIN 13169:2021-11 and DIN 13157:2021-11, State Office for Health and Occupational Safety North Rhine-Westphalia, as of 06.06.2025, with excerpts from ArbStättV and ASR A4.3. Accessed on 02.11.2026.
12. Brandenburg Accident Insurance Fund: Changed standards DIN 13157:2021 and DIN 13169:2021. Accessed on 02.11.2026.